Flexible pipe coupling



Jan. 19, 1960 w. o. BEYER FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2l, 1955 Jan. 19, 1960 w. o. lar-:YER 2,921,801

.Y l FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLING Filed March 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. #WILT/5R O. BEVER housing body to meet various lield requirements.

United States Patent YFLluiiILE PIPE CoUPLlNG Waiter o. Beyer, Piffsburgh, Pa.

ApplicationV March 2.1, 1955,*Serial No.1495,433

2 claims. (cl. 28s-s) This invention relates to ahighly adaptable construction for huid-pressure-sensitive coupling devices suitable for crop irrigating systems and which may be used in connecting one iluid carrying member to another, may be used for closing off an end of a pipe or conduit member, and also may be used with an outlet or riser member to, for example, supply a spray head.

My invention deals particularly with a quick-release type of coupling which will provide a Huid seal with the ymembers being connected, will securely hold the members in position when uid pressure is applied, and will permit quick and easy disassembly of the members whenV and only when fluid pressure is released.

In a portable pipe line system for irrigating crops, a major problem hasbeen to provide coupling parts which minimize the energy losses in the lines due to friction and leakage. The problem is complicated by other requisites which must be met by such a coupling. That is, the coupling should have a positive fool-proof holding action, work even when sludge, dirt and other foreign matter is present, be relatively light and inexpensive, and the various typesof'icoupling members used (e.g., through units, dead-end units, etc.) should be interchangeable in its And, the coupling unit should be adaptable for use as an end closing unit, an intermediate connecting unit, as Well as a spray or discharge head supply and support unit.

Some angular adjustability or yllexibility of a pipe line system is essential because of the many different types of terrain upon which the system may be laid. In order to achieve system adaptability, the coupling unit should provide for some adjustability or exibility in its assembled relationship when relatively rigid pipe or conduit members are to be used and should be capable of eliminating the adjustability or flexibility, at least as to certain members, when flexible or plastic pipe or conduit membersare to be used, or the coupling unit is to constitute a dead-end.

Accordingly, it has been an object of my invention to meet the factors involved and provide a solution to the problem presented in the employment of the typeof uid couplings here involved; l

Another object of my invention has been to devise a coupling unit or device which will provide a positive but easily releasable holding force and which will minimize fluid friction and leakage losses;

A further object of this invention has been to devise a coupling unit or device which provides a maximum of adaptability and versatility;

A still further object has been to devise an improved or more eflicient fluid coupling construction of a quick releasable type. v

The objects stated are merely illustrative and other objects will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

'Figure 1 is a side elevation in section taken along the longitudinal-axis' 'of a .eoupling unit employing my inveti, :illustrating iluidilow therein and the relative Aduced diameter. .or formed between each gasket-receiving chamber and 35- 2,921,801 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 iCC positioning of the members before and after fluid pressure is applied; the coupling unit, as illustrated, is utilized for a dead-end and spray head take-off;

AFigureV 1A is a fragmental side elevation in section of Va through-flow type of coupling nose member that may be employed in place of one or both of the nose members shown in Figure l;

Figure 2 is an end section in elevation taken along the line `l-I-Il of Figure l, illustrating the coupling unit and uid flow therein;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental section taken along the line lll-HI of Figure 1, and illustrating a grip element or annulus and its operative positioning'within the coupling unit.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a coupling unit or device for a iluid flow system whose construction utilizes a main coupling housing body that is shown as providing a spray head, side take-off or throat, and a pair of opposite, longitudinally positioned, end throats to receive and hold coupling nose members or conduit end portions therein. The main housing body is generally tubular and is provided with opposite, longitudinal or axial, outer end-portions which have radially-inwardly tapering, iuternal-camhtaper or outwardly-converging cone-shaped throat walls and inner annular or cylindrical Walls which respectively form grip annulus and gasket receiving and operating portions or chambers.

The coupling housing body is alsoprovided with a central, substantially annular, flow-shaping portion or chamber intermediate the end portions which chamber is deined by a generally tubular wall, the major portion of which has an annular or cylindrical configuration of re- A gasket-retaining shoulder is located the flow chamber. An outlet opening is defined by the wallY of the flow-shaping portion or chamber which wall slopes transversely-outwardly at substantially right angles to the longitudinal flow axis of the coupling (shown at its top. side) into a nipplewall or coupling socket outlet I end portion at a position which is substantially the same distance from the longitudinal axis of the housing body as the annular or cylindrical walls of the gasket and grip annulus retaining portions or chambers. As shown, the nipple wall 14 has an outer end portion (of reduced diameter, as compared to the longitudinal end portions) which has a forward cone-shaped throat wall 14a, an inner annular Wall leb, and a radially-inwardly projecting annular abutment or retaining shoulder 14C for a resilient gasket and grip annulus assembly.

Flow-shaping chamber B is further deined by a web on each side .of the nipple wall. The webs extend be tween the outwardly-sloping Wall (see Figure 2) and form extensions of the gasket-retaining shoulders, so that shoulders extend around the entire internal periphery of the coupling housing body. A resilient annular sealing gasket and a flexible grip annulus are positioned in each end or coupling sleeve portion of the coupling housing body in such a manner that uid-pressure-sensitive chambers of the resilient annular gaskets are open towards the flow-shaping portion or chamber and are operatively positioned to cooperate with cone-shaped throat wall surfaces.

Of the pair of main coupling nose portions or members provided, at least one is connected to a pipe or conduit member of the flow system and the other may be a deadend member or may also be connected to a pipe or conduit member of the system, depending upon the layout desired.

Each of the main coupling nose members is of a tubular construction and is provided with a cylindrical or annular front' (inner) end wall portion and a cylindrical or annular back (outer) wall portion. The front or-end members.

the nose members.

' outer Wall portion 10b.

wall portion has a smaller outer diameter than the internal diameter of the gasket-positioning shoulders in the coupling housing body, so that main nose members and 11 may be inserted 'into the coupling'housing body Afrom'its opposite longitudinal ends andinto and to further dene the flow-shaping portion or chamber B. In this manner, an annular fluid port or passageway is defined between the end walls or the opposed edges of the nose Thus, a fluid passageway is provided into the flow-shaping chamber that, as to itsr minimum width, is controlled by a cooperative engagement between grip annuluses and abutment shoulders when the main coupling nose members-10 and 11 are pushed or moved endwise'- into the housing body.

The sealing gaskets 15 and 15 and grip annuluses 16 and 16` in coupling housing body V12. operate to seal the spacing between the coupling nose members and the coupling housing body and to provide holding force upon That is, each sealing gasket advances its adjacent cooperating grip annulus or coil forwardly- Y outwardly into an annular cavity or outwardly-converging,

operating spacingbetween the coupling parts in response to fluid pressure in the system. The advancing action@ face ofthe coupling housing body and nose member ap plies compressive force on the grip annulus to provide a holding force between coupling parts.

If the coupling nose member (pipe or conduit end por- 0.

tion) is to be used to provide a substantially rigid or nonpivotable joint, its outer or back wall portion, see 11b, is given an enlarged diameter such that it has a closeclearance, slide-tit, somewhat annular line-contact with outer ends of the coupling housing body. A tubular operating transition portion behind the slide t on an outer wall portion of the coupling nose member and between such portion and an inner end wall is to be operatively engaged by a exible grip annulus. The grip annulus provides a spaced-apart second annular-line contact for cooperating with the iirst-mentioned annular-line contact to provide a substantially non-pivotal relationship between coupling housing body12 and conduit nose member 11. v

The operating transition portion of both the nose members 10 and 11, as illustrated, is provided with an annular groove 10d adjacent the inner or end portion, an annular land or groove seat b immediately adjacent the annular groove, anda convexly-curved annular shoulder 10c eX- tending between the land andthe annular or cylindrical lf a dead-end member 11 is desired, the above-described coupling nose member is provided with a closing wall 11e which is shown connected and located within the tubular transition portion and which closes oftr the member to uid flow. In order to diffuse and deaden the shock of a sudden application of fluid pressure and to thus diminish the possibility of losing the dead-end member, the wall 11e is made concave. In this connection, it has been found that best results are obtained by giving the concavity of the closing wall the shape of a parabola. Y

Where a degree of adjustability or flexibility in the join is desired, the cylindrical outer wall portion, see 10b, of

the coupling nose member is given such a diameter that it'has a large clearance in the end or nose portion of the coupling housing body 12 to provide for angular orV piv- `otal adjustment therebetween and about the grip annulus.

The tubular transition portion of the coupling member, as in coupling members 11 and 11', is provided with annular groove 10d immediately adjacent the inner'wall portion, land portion or groove seat b immediately adjacent the annular groove portion, and curved shoulder 10c extending between the land and the cylindrical outer wall portion. However, in the case of a nose member 10 for a somewhat tlexible joint, where its outer wall portion 10b may be no larger than its end portion 10a (as illustrated to the right of Figure 1), curved abutment shoulder 10c may be extended radially-outwardly between the outer wall portion and the transition portion.

The requisite or desired degree of Vrigidity of the joint is dependent Vupon whetheror not a dead-end member 11 is used and upon whether or not one or both of the pipe members joined is flexible. 'Ihat is, if the joint is to be usedV where ilexibility or adjustability is not necessary, the rigid joint is preferred,` since akbetter seal can be obtained and leakage loss minimized. In the case of a joint between a dead-endcoupling'member and the housing body, where the coupling nosemember does not have to support an attached conduit member, a rigid joint contributes to a fool-proof holding action, as there is no weight of conduit backing up the nose member or to help' absorb line surges, etc. Y'

For example, inthe dead-end coupling nosemember V11, illustrated to the left of Figure 1, the close clearance t of the outer wall portion of the dead-end member 11 within the coupling housing body 12, assures av proper initial alignment of the parts and prevents a cooking of the dead-'end member under the application of fluid pressure. The curved and concave configuration given to the closing wall 11e in the dead-end member 11 also reduces the tendency of the part to cock under the application of fluid pressure. These factors assure a proper sealing action of the gasket, even at low pressures, and Substantially eliminatie the possibility of the dead-end member 11 shooting out'under pressure. If the conduit or pipe 9 to be used in the system is exible (such as of plastic material and not metal) then of course, both joints may be made rigid, whether one isa dead-end or not. If it is only necessary to have one joint which is adjustable, one of the joints may be made rigid Vand the other iiexible by the selective'use of coupling nose members of the type shown in Figures 1 and 1A.

With specific reference to the drawings, the coupling housing body is designated by the numeral 12 and the pair of main coupling members which are utilized with the coupling housing body in ther Vembxlinient illustrated in Figure l are designated by'the numeralsjlOland 11. The coupling housing'body 12 and the coupling members (pipe or conduit end portions) 10 and 11 are preferably formed or cast from a light material such asaluminum and have rounded smooth edges to minimize friction losses.

As may be seen from the drawings, the main coupling housing body 12 is of generally tubular construction, is provided with opposite end walls 13 or coupling sleeve portions of like construction and a generally tubular intermediate or central connecting wall 12a. Each Vof the opposite'end walls 13 includes an inwardly-tapered end wall portion 13a forming'an internal cam-taper or outwardly-converging Vthroat surface 13e. Backwall portions 13b have annular or cylindrical internal surfaces 13d. The tapered end wall portions 13a and the cylindrical wall portions 13b eiectively form Vgrip annulus and gasket-receiving, retaining or carrying chambers within the coupling housing body 12.

The major portion of the generally tubular central wall 12a has a cylindrical coniguration, the inner diameter of which is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical walls 13b that provides the gasket-receiving chamber. As shown in Figure 2, the intermediate wall 12a has an outwardly sloped wall 12b to dene a side outlet and receive a nipple wall, coupling socket body or part 14. The

Vnipple 14 is shown locatedk at the top side of the housing body 1Z'and as extending at substantially right angles to and at a distance from the longitudinal axis ofthe housing intermediate or central wall 12a is less than the diameter ofthe cylindrical wall portions- -1-3b of the end walls `13 of the coupling housing body 12,v arpair ofrga'sket-retaining wall portions or shoulders 12e (see Figure l1) Vare formed around the major portion of theinternal periphery of the coupling housing body 12 between VtheA wall portions 13b and the intermediate wall 12a. At the top outlet, opposed webs 14d extend between the outwardly-sloping portions 12b of the intermediatewall portion (see Figures 1 and 2) and adjacent opposite sides thereof, in sucha manner that they form substantial continuations of the shoulders 12c. Thus, the intermediate wall 12a with its 'outward shoulder wall portions 12C, and the webs 14d define a side internal now-shaping chamber B in the coupling housing body. The end walls 13 and gasketretaining shoulders 12e and webs 14d define internal vgasket and Vgrip annulus-receiving' end chambers. As will be explained in more detail later, the chamber within the intermediate wall 12a is given the name how-shaping chamber, because it is shaped to direct the 'flow of iluid intoV the nipple 14 with a minimum of turbulence and resultant friction loss. lt will be noted that it has a substantially annular shape and has a lesser radial depth 'or thickness than cross width.

A resilient annular sealing gasket 15 and a` exible grip annuius 116 are placed in each longitudinal end 13 of the coupling housing body 12 in such a manner that the gaskets 15 are intermediate the grip annuluses 16 and the grip annuluses 16 are positioned to cooperate within the tapered inner cam surfaces or throat portions 13. Each annular sealing gasket 15 is preferably a unitary structure having a resilient solid annular baseY or heel portion and radially spaced-apart side walls or lips 'which protrude backwardly from the heel portion and de ne a V-shaped, iluid-pressure-sensitive receiving cavity or chamber therebetween. Each sealing gasket is positioned with its heel portion in operating adjacency or abutment against a exible grip annulus and its huid-receiving chamber is open towards the how-shaping chamber B and to an immediate liuid-receivingc'hamber of low turbulence. The flexible grip annuluses 416 are preferably formed of spring-coiled metal or plastic. .y A Y The nipple part 14 is provided with a coupling body which has a radially-inwardly tapered forward Vend wall portion 14a and a cylindrical or annular back wall portion 14h which is connected to the central wall 12a and is in alignment with shoulders 12e and 14a. The diameter of the cylindrical wall portion 14h is greater than that of the connecting wall of the nipple 14 such that a gasketretaining, annular shoulder 14e is provided.

It will be noted that the internal coniiguration of the nipple body or part 14 corresponds generally tok the internal coniiguration of the end walls 13. A resilient annular sealing gasket 15 and a eXible grip annulus -16 are shown positioned within the nipple body. The nipple 14 is primarily provided for the efflux of uid to a spray head riser pipe, take-off or conduit member 17, althoughit may be used in connection with another fluid line or may be closed off. As illustrated, the nipple 14, the sealing gasket 15' and the grip annulus 16' vare provided for the purpose of positively coupling the inner orlower end portion or nose of the riser pipe or conduit member 17 of reduced diameter directly tothe nipple body 14 and indirectly to the housing body 12 to flow fluid from the coupling body 12 into the pipe 17.

Of the pair of annular coupling nose members and 11 shown in Figures l and 2, one (the member 19) Ais an open or ilow member connected to a dow system and the other (the member -1-1) is shown as a dead-end mem-v ber. However, :he construction is adaptable in that the members 1G and-11 may be reversed as to their respective positions,` and Ymembers 10 or members 11 may be employed at both4 end positions.

y The member 10 is provided with a cylindrical inner or forward end wall portion 10a, a cylindrical outer or back- Mwardvliall portion 10b, and an intermediate operating or 6. transition walluportion.,y As illustrated, theA .cylindrical front wall land back wall portions 10a and 10b are given thei same diameter which is small enough .that Vthefront wall portionof theA annular nose member 17,0 may be freely insertedlongitudinally-endwise 4through the normally slightly larger internal diameter of the flexible grip annulus V16and intoy theA internal diarnetei'` gf the iluid dow chamber of the coupling', end wall 13, AThe intermediate portion of the open end memberplis defined by the annular groove portion 10d immediately adjacent the end wall portion 16a, land portion'fb adjacent and outwardly above the annular groove-10d,- and euryed abutment or push shoulder face portion-a extending between the land b andthe cylindrical back` wall portion 10b. As shown with the coupling member 10'theconv'exface a of curved shoulder 10c is actually a convex raised annulus.

According to the preferred4V method 'of attaching the conduit or pipe member 9 tothe coupling or nose member 10, 'the member 9`is forced endwise into the internal diameter of the member itl/the leading end 9a of th'e member 9 is wrapped outwardly over the front end of the member` 10, and an intermediate portion 9b of the .pipe member is forced up into the interna-l annular groove under the shoulder 10`c oft-h'e coupling nose member. Thus, the pipe member 9 nd coupling 'nose member 10 are held securely together-and no shar'p edges are presented to the iluid flow through `the construction. The coupling no'se member 11, as illustrated, has a cylindrical forward or inner endiwall portion 11a, a cylindric'al back or outer wall portion 11b, Vand an interme diate operating transition wall portion. The end wall portion 11a is of the same outer diameter as the end Wall portion and thus, 'r'n'ay Ab'e freely and easily inserted through the normally larger internal diameter of a 'grip annulus 1'6 and v'into the 'fluid flow chamber B of the coupling housing body. v v l The outer Wall lportion 11b' ofthe dead-end coupling member 11 has a greater outerV diameter than the wall portion 11a and such as Yto Vdefine ancl'ose clearance' fit withinthe tapered throat wall 13d of the: coupling housing -body 172. Thus, thefcfouplirigr iiie'mbr 11 will beinserted inthe coupling housing Body with 'a proper alignment. As a consequencefa'ny coupling member having the general construction of vthe Ycoupling member 11 will present a substantially rigid joint in the coupling Vhousing body 12 and will have little'o'r'noV angular adjustment.

The intermediate transitionV portion isrpr'ovided with f forward annular groove portion 11d (corresponding to the groove portion 10d) adjacent the wall portion 11a, a land portion b immediately adjacentv and outwardly` of the annular groove 11d, and a convex'ly curved shoulder portion 11C having its face a eiite'nding between the b' and the back wall portion 11b.V 4The land `b', as illustrated, has approximately the same diameter as the end wall portion 11a. x

The dead-end couplingmember 11 is also provided with an outer closing wall 117e which is shown as being located substantially within the transition wall portion 11e to close off the member ,to huid iiow,V The closing Wall 11e is inwardly concave Vin order to diffuse deaden the shock of a sudden application of iluid pressure within the member, andralsotow ce'ntalize the effective force and prevent the dead-end member 11 from cooking or tilting within the coupling housing body 12 upon fluid pressure application. As shown, the concavity of the closing wall lle'has theA shape of a parabola, since it has been found that this shape willV give `a maximum diffusion and shock deadening action. In addition, the outer wall portion 11b of the dead-end coupling member 11 is provided with an elongated aperture 11]c on each side which permits the dead-end member to be easily manually grasped to arid in its manipulation.

The coupling nosemembers 10 and 11 are inserted into opposite ends 13 of the coupling housing body 12'befo'rje -uid pressure is applied and until they occupy operat- Ving positions, asindicated by the solid lines of Figure 1 (Position l). AThat is,vthe coupling nose .members are inserted into the opposite end walls 13 of the coupling housing body 12until their'cylindrical end wall portions 10a and 11a pass through'the flexible gripping elements 16, through the gasketslS, past the gasket positioning shoulders 712e (and shoulders or webs 14d), and intothe flow-shaping chamber Bfof the coupling housing Vbodyr At this time, grip annuluses 16 are positioned on the lands b and b' and against the curved shoulders a and a' of the coupling members 10 `and V11, respectively; andthe gaskets are in abutment'or sealing engagement between the outer surfaces of the end wall portions 10a and 11a and the inner surfaces 13d of the cylindrical portions 13b of the coupling housing body 12.

' When the nose coupling members are inserted, the shoulder faces a and a' engage the grip annuluses 16 and force the annuluses and the gaskets backwardly until theY gaskets engage the gasket-retaining shoulders 12C and 14d. yAs'will be seen from Figure l, the coupling nose members 10 and 11 when fully inserted do not engage eachother, but have an effective but restricted uid flow passageway, port or space e therebetween. The spacing e provides an annular port from the interior of the nose coupling members into the flow-shaping chamber B of the coupling housing body 12.

When uid pressure is applied to -the system, it will of Y widens from e tof.(see Figure l) when fluid pressurev -1s applied. Of the fluid which flows out of the annular port, a part'thereof will be moved into side chambers and into the cavities of the gaskets 15, as is indicated by the body 12; If the annuluses 16 are formed of flexible coiled metal or plastic, as preferred, see Figure 3, the coilsact as a set of multiple jaws closing on the coupling memi bers. The conditionr just described is indicated by the dotted line position of the elements in Figure l which is labeled'Position 2. v Y

' In Figure 1, f1, f2 and f3 represent fluid flow from the coupling nose members into the ow shaping chamber B of'the coupling housing body 12. Due to the shape of the ow shaping chamber B, the fluid entering is shaped toow upwardly and outwardly between the webs 14d intothe spray head riser-or pipe 17, as may be seen from Figure Y2. Thus, the fluid-receiving cavities of the sealing gaskets 15 Vare areas of low turbulence. YSome fluid willV also be forced up and into the gasket 15 which acts to Vadvance theY gripY annulus 16' Valong the inner cam surface of the Ycoupling throat portion 14a and vthereby hold the pipe 17 in position in much the same manner as was explained with regard to the gaskets 15 and grip Yannuluses 16.

It will be noted from the construction shown and described herein that there are no sharp edgesexposed and the coupling housing body 12 and coupling nose members 10 and 11 are of a smooth construction with venturi type openings and with no sharp cutouts or abrupt edges adjacent ports, passageways and chambers through which active fluid flow takes place. See also the .beveled ends 17a of the pipe 17. The configuration given to the ow shaping chamber B has the advantage of shaping the fluid owl and directing it out the pipe17 with a minimum of lturbulence and a minimum of friction loss. The flow through the port or passageway between inner ends of the members 10 and 11 initially represented by e of Potion 1 (see Figure l) and then, by f of Position 2, is a velocity ow by reason of the reduced area between opposed end walls 9a and 11a and with respect to the chamber defined by the members 10A and 11.` There is a slight expansion in chamber B that is suflicient to aid in shaping the ow and smoothing out side-chamber turbulence. I have found that the construction shown and illustrated reduces frictional and other losses (measured in terms of equivalent diameters) to the extent that the range which the fluid will be dispersed by a spray head is inow lines f4. VThe pressure of theY uid in the coupling nose members 10 and 11 sets up forces that would normally tend to force them apart, away from each other or out of ythe-coupling housing body 12 and the grip annuluses.

Fluid pressure f4 which enters the cavities of the sealing gaskets 15 causes the gaskets andv at least, their heel portions to move forwardly-outwardly. As a consequence, the grip lannuluses 16 are advanced forwardlyoutwardly along the inwardly tapered cam surfaces 13e and essentially, into gripping engagement with opposed operating surfaces in the direction of convergence of theroperating spacing defined therebetween. As shown by dot and dash line Position 2, the nose members 10 and 11 move slightly outwardly and the annuluses 16 may ride olf the lands b and b and into latching engagement with the forwardly declining and backwardly po- Y sitioned surfaces d and d' of the annular -groove portions 10d and 11d. It will'be notedthat'the lands b and b' vand the groove portions 10d and 11d have a curvature Vd and d' of the annular grooves 10d and 11d respectively.

The grip annuluses 16 thus Vclose radially-inwardly as .the coil moves outwardly along the tapered inner cam surfaces 13e and positively lock the coupling nose members10 Yand 11 in position within the coupling housing creased by as much as five feet over a comparable 'couvling arrangement which utilizes a simple cutout opening with rough edges in a perfectly cylindrical housing body.

When fluid pressure is reelased, the grip annuluses 16, being inherently flexible, will tend to ride inwardly and backwardly along the tapered cam surfaces 13e and force the gasket 15 toward their initial positions against the gasket retaining shoulders .12C and 14d. yIn orderV to free the coupling nose members to remove them from the coupling housing body 12, it is first necessary to push the coupling member 10 or 11 inwardly, thus causing the land b or b' to moveto a position beneath the grip annulus and to provide a forward abutment of the grip annulus against the shoulder face a or a', as is indicated by the solid lines of VFigure 1 (Position 1). It will be noted that this pushed-in position corresponds to the initial position ofthe coupling members after they are assembled. The coupling member 10 or 11 may then be withdrawn Iby simply pulling it outwardly. The forward or end wall portions 10a and 11a pass out unimpeded by the grip annuluses which as preshaped or formedland, as pointed out previouslyjhave internaldi- V9" through-How member insteadof a dediend member" 'and be used only where'a rigid'ljin n be Infa'tiegthat is; where a degreeof ilexioility 6r Va"djixstability is`V not required in the joint, itself. When'ileitibility of the joint is required, then a coupling nose member v1t) of the construction shown to the right of Figure' 1 is employed; when flexibility of the' joints at both longitudinal' ends of the coupling is not desired, then a pair of coupling nose members of the type of 11' of Figure 1A will be used.

'It will -be noted that the pipe member 9 is aixed to the member 11 by forcing it into the internal diameter of the back wall portion 11b and by rolling a pair of locking groove portions 11'e from the internal periphery of the wall 9b of the pipe or conduit member 9'.

A close joint also reduces the possibility of leakage due to improper setting of the sealing lips of the gaskets when they are under low pressure. Leakage losses not only reduce fluid pressure, but cause undesirable puddling at the joint which is particularly detrimental where a seeded bed is being watered.

Where the crop row layout is such that only one joint need have a degree of ilexibility, the coupling nose member 11 may be used in one end of the coupling housing body 12 and the coupling nose member 10 may be used in the opposite end of the coupling housing body 12. Af course, when a dead-end coupling member is to be used, a rigid joint is desirable and as a consequence, a dead-end coupling member such as the nose member 11 of Figure 1 is used.

As shown in Figure 1, the riser pipe or conduit member V17 has an annular positioning flange 18 to rest on upper lip edges of the throat Wall portion 14a. This ange 18 not only limits the maximum amount of insertion of the member `17, but also supports its weight and the weight of other parts such as a spray head. After fluid pressure is off, the pipe may be removed by turning it and pulling it axially-outwardly.

I have found that friction loss and particularly, the loss due to square or wire-drawing edges can have a very great effect on the ultimate eiective fluid ow head of the system. This is highly important from the standpoint of the conversion of pressure head to velocity head such as occurs in the region or the area of the chamber B and which is employed to provide a suitable spray head from the nipple 14 and through a riser pipe or member 17. Depending on flow velocity, I have found that square edge orices may produce a spray loss of, for example, a l5 or 20 foot head. Thus, the lfriction at entry and eftlux points of the coupling are highly important. This is the reason why the leading end or edge of the portion 9a of the member 9, of the portion 10a of the member 10, of the portion 11a of the member 11 (or 11a of the member 11 of Figure lA), and of the portions 14d and 17a of the part 14 and member 17 have rounded edges with a more gradual slope on the side against which fluid ilow is directed from the pipe or conduit system. This is also one of the reasons why, as shown in Figure 2, there is provided a relatively smooth and gradual, approaching slope along the portion 12b that connects the nipple part 1-4 with the Wall portion 12a of the how-shaping chamber B. The importance of my form of ilow modulation with minimized losses cannot be over-emphasized and especially so as to the opposed edges of the members 10 and 11 which dene a venturi opening or passageway for the fluid or liquid to the chamber B (see ow lines f1, f2 and f3 of Figure 1 of the drawings).

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings that I have accomplished the objects of my invention by providing a coupling construction which assures a positive holding action between parts, substantially reduces friction and leakage losses by shaping uid flow in the members and by eliminating rough and sharp edges, provides for a maximum 136 of interchang'ebility of various types of i coupling nsre membershand which will workevenwhen sludge;- dirt or other foreignmatter is present inthe fluid handled.

What I claimis;Y V

1. An improved coupling construction for use with a uid ow clis'tibtioiiV system employing an angularly tiltable member wliicli'oprise's', aninte'gral coupling' housing body of generally tubular construction, said housing body having substantially longitudinally-aligned open-end substantially identical sleeve portions in an opposite and connected relationship with each other, said sleeve portions each having an inner throat provided with a radially-inwardly-sloped grip surface, the throats of both said sleeve portions being of substantially the same construction and shape and having substantially the same inner diameters along corresponding portions of their respective lengths, the throats of said sleeve portions each having a quick-release ilexible grip annulus and a fluidpressure-sensitive annular gasket in a cooperative relation with each other and operatively carried thereby; a. pair of coupling nose member, one of which is to be connected to a source of uid, and the other of which has a closing end wall; each of said nose members having a cylindrical back portion connected integrally by a transition portion to a cylindrical inner end portion, said inner and outer cylindrical portions of said one nose member having substantially the same outer diameter and dem'ng a wide clearance spacing with respect to a sleeve portion of said housing body Within which it is inserted for providing a tiltable relationship with respect to said sleeve portion, the outer cylindrical portion of said other nose member having a larger outer diameter than the corresponding portion of said one nose member and deiining a close clearance tit with an outer end portion of the throat of the other sleeve portion of said housing body within which said other nose member is inserted, the outer cylindrical portion of said other nose member having grip -means thereon for inserting and withdrawing said other nose member with respect to an associated sleeve portion of said housing body, the closing end wall extending from the transition portion of said other nose member, the inner cylindrical portion of said other nose member having an outer diameter that is substantially smaller than the outer diameter of its said outer cylindrical portion and that substantially corresponds to the outer diameter of the cylindrical inner and outer portions of said one nose member, the transition portions of said nose members being substanitally identical and each having an outer release portion and an inner locking portion of smaller diameter, and the grip annuluses carried by the throats of said housing body being adapted to grip-engage between the sloped grip surfaces of the throats and the inner locking transition portions of said nose members to releasably hold said nose members within said housing body. A

2. An improved coupling construction as dened in claim 1 wherein, said housing body has a coupling socket projecting upwardly at substantially right angles to and intermediate said sleeve portions, said coupling socket is open to uid-ow from said housing body, and a spray head take-oit pipe member is rotatably and guidably carried'within said coupling socket to project therefrom.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 658,313 Bernardi Sept. 18, 1900 1,860,346 Anderson May 3l, 1932 1,861,314 McAndrew May 31, 1932 1,933,117 Markle Oct. 31, 1933 2,087,916 Lanninger July 27, 1937 2,184,376 Beyer Dec. 26, 1939 (Other references on following page) 11' UNITED STATES PATENTS Wyss Sept, 21, 1948 l Harllf' k .v.;..' ..r ...,L. May 23, 1950 Mcese Dec. 19, 1950 Beyer' Mar. 4, 1952 Jacobs Aug.,31 ,Y 1954 

